Stalk digger and chopper



o. E. HlN-rz ErAL 2,738,717

STALK DIGGER AND CHOPPER 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 20, 1956 original Filedoct. 15. 1951 Mardi 20, 1956 o. E. HlNTz ETAL sTALK BIGGER AND cHoPPER 5Sheets--Shee'rl 2 Original Filed Oct. 15 1951 March 20, 1956 o. E'.HINTz Erm.

sTALx BIGGER AND CHOPPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Oct. 15. 1951tween.

United States Patent O srALK BIGGER AND cHoPPER Otto E. Hintz,Riverside, and Arthur H. Nakata, Chicago, Ill., assignors toInternational Harvester Company, a corporation ofv New Jersey Originalapplication October 15, 1951, Serial No. 251,336. Divided and thisapplication November 1, 1952, Serial No. 318,268

This invention relates to a stalk digger and chopper mechanism and moreparticularly to a novel unit for uprooting and comminuting cotton stalksor other bushy plants.` This application is a division of applicantsapplibeneath the waist of the conventional tractor and powered from theside power take-olf thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multirow unitlelongated transversely of the tractor and comdrum assembly to the rearthereof, the drums having interdigitating lingers arranged to shear thestalks therebe `and compact unit which is adapted to be mounted 'iprising a forward digger drum assembly and a shredder Ay further objectis to devise a novel two-row unit affording substantially balancedstressed distribution.

A morelspecific object is to provide such unit incorporating a forwarddigger component cooperatively associated with a shredder componenttherebehind,.both

, components being supported from an associated tractor by a novellinkage formed and arranged to lower' the"` ,unit to operating positionand to raise theunit to transport position, the linkage beingdesignedtomove the forward component a greater range upwardly anddownrwardly than the shredder component in order to leffectively clearthe ground when in transport position and to rearwardly of the diggerdrum which operates on an axis parallel to the drum a'xis, the diggerdrum assembly being arranged to swing about the axis of the shredderdrum q for positioning in operating and transport positions.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent fromthe specification and the drawings wherein:

Figure k1 is a side elevational view of the unit shown applied to thetractor and yin an intermediate position immediately prior to theraising of the forward cornponent or to the lowering of the entire unit.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view with the tractor shownfragmentarily diagrarnmatically, and

Fig. 3 is a top View of the digger and shredder cornpone'ntsdisassociated from the remainder of the g mechanism.

Describing the invention in detail, the tractor generally designated 2may be of conventional design comprising a waist structure 4 carried atits forward end by a narrow steering truck 6 `and at its rear endthrough conventional -housing from a traction wheel 8 at eachsidethereof.

The combination digger and comminuting or shredder `unit 10 is disposedbeneath the waist 4 ofthe tractor and comprises `a housing structure 12elongated transversely 0f the tractor and extending outwardly fromopposite 2,738,717 Patented Mar. 20, 1956 ICC sides thereof andincluding a forwardly open shroud 14 adjacent each end thereof. Eachshroud includes a top panel 16 and inboard and outboard panels 18 vand20 depending therefrom. The inboard panel may be of extremely shortdownward extent. The top panel 16 slopes downwardly, rearwardly and atits rear edgeis suitably connected to the forward edge of asemicylindrical top segment 22 of the housing. The outboard panels 20 ofthe respective shroud sections carry suitable bearing assemblies 24through which a cross shaft 26 is journaled, the shaft 26 forming agenerally horizontal rotational axis, extending transversely of thetractor, and keyed to the forward component or stalk uprooting diggerdrum assembly generally designated 28.

The drum assembly or fore section 28 of the implement comprises a seriesof discs 30, 32, and 34 and washers 36 sleeved on the shaft 26 andstacked side by side in a manner hereinafter described. Each disccomprises a plurality of radially outwardly extending fingers 38, 38which are curved longitudinally in a direction toward their leadingedges 4t). It will be seen that the discs 30, 30 are substantiallylarger in diameter than the discs 32, 32 which in turn are substantiallylarger in diameterl than the discs 34, the discs 30 being adapted tofunction as the primary diggers and obtain the deepest penetration intothe earth, the discs 32 being designed as secondary diggers, that iscloser to the surface, and the discs 34 being adapted to serve as trashpickers ol the surface of the ground. Of course, discs 32 may be ofequal size with vdiscs 30. The arrangement of the discs 30 to 34 `on theVshaft is as follows:

The discs 30 and 32 are grouped adjacent each end of the shaft toprovide digger sections 37, 37 within the respective shrouds and extendacross and at opposite sides of an associated row of cotton plants. Itwill be understood that these rows are normally planted between 38 and40 inches apart and that each grouping extends approximately 18 inches,that is a substantial distance at leach side of the associated row toaccount for discrepfancies in the planting and the bushiness of theplant.

Each group may be arranged with several discs 30 iianked by two washers36, 36 which are disposed between discs 34, 34 at the remote sides andseat against( adjacent discs 32,32. Outwardly of these groupings may bedisposed a series of discs 34, 34 alternating with washers 36, 36 and asimilar arrangement of alternating discs 34 and washers 36 may belocated between these groups. The discs 34 Vmay be substituted forwashers 36. The entire assemblage may be compacted into a pile by nuts42 and 44 (Fig. 3) threaded on opposite ends of the shaft and tightenedagainst opposite ends of the stack of vwashers and discs. It will beseen that the discs 30 are thus positioned to dig into the soil on therows and that the action is accentuated by the operation of the discs 32and 34. Inasmuch as there are no plants growing intermediate the rowsthe discs 34 in those regions serve to cut upV and lift the trash andweeds. It will be noted that the lingers of adjacent discs arecircumferentially angularly displaced or staggered with respect to eachother to provide extensive spacing therebetween to reduce clogging andalso make the action more continuous.

A shredder or comminuting drum assembly component generally indicated 44is positioned immediately to the rear of the digger drum and rotates onan axis parallel thereto and disposed slightly upwardly and to the rearthereof. The drum structure or aft section 44 of the implement maycomprise an axial tube 45 with coaxial shafts 46, 46 at opposite endsthereof, the tube 45 carryl ing adjacent each end a plurality ofcircular hub members 48, 48 keyed or connected thereto and spacedaxially thereof and each having a uniformly spaced series of parallelrods Sti, 50 extending therethrough, each rod stl'ppftitg intermediateadjacent members 43, y48 y assembly 52 comprising a tube 54 sleeved onthe rod and connected to one of the ends ofv a series of outstand ingparallel hays or hammers 56, S6 disposed edgewise transversely to theaxis of rotation of the 'shredded unit or rotor beater and formed attheir outer extremities with vserrated edges 5.8 to obtain a choppingaction onfa stalk engaged thereby. The tiays may, of course, beindividual hammers spaced by washers so that each hammer 4rotateslfreely of the others. The center section of the shredder vmay comprisea plurality of circumferentially spaced rods "6 0, n60 constituting alight framework extending between the end members 48, 48 of the endsections, generally indicated 62,` 462 of the shredderand suitablyysupported therefrom. The rods 61), 60 of the center section 6.4 of theshredder assembly may be rspaced yby, apluralify of spacers 66, 66sleeved thereon. Each rod '60 may carry a Afiay vassembly 68 betweeneach pair of spacers and between .each spacer and the adjacent member48, each V'hay u nit 68 being generally similar yto those heretoforedescribed vand comprising a ltube rotatably mounted on the rod andhaving outstanding fingers or hammers o61. The flayfunits 68 maycomprise individual hammers separated spacers. I It will be noted that'the hammers "disposedy in the region 'of the digger discs 30 and 32 arearranged to int'rdigitate ytherewith in order to shear thel'stalkstherebetween, whereas the hammers 56 and ,'61 disposed inthe region ofthe outer ends of the 4vdigger "drum and intermediate the diggersections 37, 37 'are arranged l`to pass lwith their outer extremitiesclose 'proximityto `the'peripheries of the related discs 34. In

respect the arrangement provides for the most effective shearing actionin the regions where it is 'required and strategically *locates thevarious lsegments ofy yeach component so that it is most effectivelyutilized. It will be noted thatfthe outer extremities of the shafts y46,46 form the "axis in rotation for the comminuting Aassembly extendthrough journal bearing assemblies 2,4, 24 carried by the outboardpanels 26, 20 of Ythe 4slirfouds'said panels being connected at theirupper edges to thelgl'ateral edges of the semicylindrical or arcuate'segment Y22 of the housing. The unit is moved up and down by ne'ansio'f'a hydraulic motor 70 disposed at one side 'of the tractor lalong thewaist thereof, said hydraulic -unit haying one end pivotally connected"as at 72 on a substantially horizontal axis to a suitable bracketstructure mounted to a side member component on the sideof the tractor.The hydraulic motor or'rnover slopes downwardly, rearwardly from itsyconnt-:ctiori at 72 land has its "wer end, which .is 'the outer end ofa'pistonrod 76 loperating lwithin an associated cylinder 7S, connectedasatl80 sonA a generally horizontal Ya'xis to 'the rear end of a'bell-crank lever 82 which intermediate its "ends 'at its "e oW'islconnectedto one end of a torquerod S`4pivoted within a toi-que 'tube 86extending transversely beneath 'the ffctjor. The beu-'erank lever hasalegan 'extending 'forwardly from its elbow and at its forward end `ispivoted on 'a general horizontal axis as at 92 to thelupper end of a'link 94 Which at yits lower end is p'iyte'd on la ysubsta'ntiallyVhorizontal 'axis as at l96 tothe inboa'rd panel 18 ofthe adjacent lefthand'shroud. The otherextreinity of the torque rod 84 is connected totherer end o'f ya forwardly extending lever arm 98 which at its forwardl"extremity is pivoted on a generally horizontal Vaxis 100 tothe upperlend 'of a link 102 vand the lower end of the link l102 being pivoted asat 104` to the inboard panel 18 lof the adjacent shroud. lt will benoted that the4 forward leg947 ofthe bell-crank lever as well as thelever 4member 98 "and the links depending therefrom are arranged inparallel relationship whereby rotation 'of the bell-'crank-leve'r in a`counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 1) pursuant to the extension of thehydraulic motor, whereat *the piston is moved downwardly. rearwardly,will effect upward movement of the unit with balanced action at 4opposite v'ends thereof, and conversely retraction of the hydraulicmotor effects lowering of the unit.

The unit is additionally supported at each extremity thereof by means ofa parallelogram linkage which is spring biased to urge the unitdownwardly and additionally controls the vertical movement of theforward component of the unit with respect to therear component ashereinafter more fully detailed. The parallelogram linkage at each sideis substantially identical and comprises a top link 106 pivoted on agenerally horizontal axis at its forward end as at 168 to the upper endof a lug 110 which at its lower extremity is joined to the fop side ofthe arcuate segment 22 of the housing. The rear extremity of the link ispivoted on a generally horizontal axis as at 112 to the upper end of anupright link 114, said link member 114 being provided intermediate itsends with a sleeve 116 which is rotatably mounted on a substantiallyhorizontal axis about a cross-'shaft v118. T he lower end of the link114 is hooked a's at 120 tothe vforward extremity of a tension spring122, the 'spring 122 extending rearwardly of the link 114 and at its'r'a'r extremity being hooked as at 124 to an outstanding fea'r 126 of abracket 128 which is mounted as by a bolt 1130 to a side member of thetractor. The shaft 118 is 'e'nsleevd -by a bearing 131 at the rearextremity of a bottom link 132 of the parallelogram linkage, the link132 being bent outwardly intermediate its ends and then bent "forwardlyadjacent to its forward end and provided at the forward end with asleeve 134 journaled on the outer extremity at the related end of thebeater 'rotor shaft 46.

The shaft 118 extends through a torque tube 136 which is mounted to thetractor b'y means vof a lplurality of braces 138, and 142 which at theirlower 'ends are each connected to the tube 136 and diverge upwardly andat 'their upper ends are connected. to a suitable rn'ember of thetractor.

Referring now to Figure 1 it will be noted that each spring 122 ften'dsto rotate the associated link 114 in a clockwise rdirection as indicatedby the arrow which'in turn tends to move the upper link 106 forwardlywhereby 4the housing is caused to rotate in a clockwise Adirectiontlbtm't'the axis of the shafts 46, 46 of the hammer rotor. lThis actionis terminated when the forward edge o'f'the lnkfl'lil abuts against anadjustable stop 146 rn'ourltcd 'on -the adjacent brace 1'42 as shown inFigure l. The disposition of the stop controls the range of movement of'the "top link 106 which in turn determines the extent of `downwardmovement Vof ythe digger with respect to the hammer rotor. Any furtherdownward movement takes .place with the entire unit pivoting the linkageabout "the axis of the hammer rotor shaft 4.6, the point i108 and thepoint i1'1-2 of the lower link about cross shaft -118.

The depth ofpenetration of lthe digger unit is controlled yby the extentof l the retraction of the hydraulic motor. To raise the unit fromoperating position to transportposition, the unit is raised with thedigger and hammer sections moving'together to the position-shown 1inFigure 1 by operating the hydraulic motor through the linkage connectedthereto. The arcuate section of the housing is provided on its top sidewith a curved abutment surface 148 concentric with the axis 'of thehammer rotor and andapted to abut against the underside of the Atorquetube -86 as 4at 150 (Fig. l), these parts constituting stop means. Thislimits upward movement of the rear component whereby further upwardaction of the lever mem- `bers at opposite ends of the torque rod 84effects upward jrot'ation of the forward component with the housingabout the axis of the shafts 46, 46 of the hammer'rotor. This rotationvis vaccompanied by rearward movement of the top links` 106 `of 'eachparallelog'ram linkage and Vcounter- Pelockv'vise rotation of the links114 with consequent ex '.-p'ansion 'of the-springs 122 which afford a`yieldable con- V4'ltti'oil between the fore and 'aft Sections fv"tll'e'iitl'pl'efie'n't. l

It will be noted that the parallelogram linkage at the left side of thetractor (right side as viewed in the draw-V ings) differs slightlyfromjthat on the opposite side in that the lower link 132 on tht.l leftside is vbifurcated at its rear extremity and comprises inboard andoutboard legs 152 and 154 each of which journaled at their rear lends onthe torque tube of the cross-shaft 118, the leg 162 journaling in anarea intermediate the ends of the shaft 118, and leg -154 journalingadjacent to the left end of the shaft. This construction is necessitateddue to the longer extension of the shaft 118 and the torque tube thereoffrom the left side of the tractor and also because of the mounting ofthe driving elements on the left end of the unit. The tube 136 isfurther braced intermediate the legs 152 and 154 by a sleeve connection15,6 on the forward end of a rearwardly extending brace member 158 whichat its rear extremity is suitably connected to the axle housing of thetractor. l

The driving arrangement for the unit comprises a sprocket 160 whichforms the output of theV power takeoff on the right side of the tractor,the sprocket 160 driving a chain 162 which is trained about a sprocket164 at the right end of the shaft 118 and keyed thereto. The shaft 118is xed at its opposite end to a sprocket 166 which drives a chain 168which comprises 'a lower run 170 extending over the upper part of anidler sprocket 172 meshing therewith and then continuing under andaround a sprocket 174 keyed to the hammer rotor shaft 46 at the left endthereof. The chain 168 then returns around the sprocket 166. The idlersprocket 172 is mounted on a :stub shaft 176 generally parallel to theaxis of rotation of the forward and rear components and of the shaft118, the stub shaft 176 being welded or integrally united at its inboardend to a mounting plate 178 which is clamped to a mating mounting plate180 as by bolts 182, a plate 180 being welded to the adjacent lowerparallelogram link at the junction of the legs 152 and 154 thereofwhere, it will be noted, that the lateral extent of the leg 152 servesefliciently to prevent buckling.

The idler sprocket 172 is formed integrally on its inboard side with asmaller sprocket 184, the sprocket 184 driving the chain 186 which istrained about a larger sprocket 188 journaled on the adjacent shaft 46,the sprocket 188 being formed on its inboard side integrally with asmaller sprocket 190 driving a chain 192 which in turn drives a largersprocket 194 mounted on the left end of the shaft of the digger unit.

Referring now to Figure 1 it will be noted that the driving arrangementis such as to drive the digger drum in a counter-clockwise direction asshown by the'arrow and the hammer rotor in a clockwise direction. Therotation f of the digger unit is substantially slower than the hammerrotor. In View of this disparity in the speeds it will be readilyappreciated that the hammers will shear the stalks entered between sameand the interdigitating discs of the digger.

We claim:

1. In a multirow digger and shredder mechanism for uprooting andcomminuting stalk crops planted in rows across a field, a frame, meanscarried by a power driven vehicle for supporting the frame above theground surface, a power take-olf operable by said driven vehicle, arotatably mounted drum having a group of radially disposed deeppenetrating teeth adjacent to opposite ends thereof and spaced forregistry with predetermined rows, said drum having other radiallydisposed shallow penetrating teeth of substantially lesser radial extentthan said groups and disposed intermediate said groups and adapted tooperate upon the ground between the rows to remove weeds and the like,drive-transmitting means interconnecting the drum with said powertake-off to drive said drum whereby the peripheral speed of said drumteeth is greater than the ground speed of the power driven vehicle, arotatably mounted beater positioned generally parallel to the drumcarried by the frame and comprising a plurality of radially extensibleays, the ays adjacent tothe deep teeth in said groups interdigitatingtherewith for-shredding stalks 'entered therebetween'pursuant-to theirbeing uprooted by said drum,l the ays adjacent to the shallowpenetrating teeth having outer extremities positioned to pass in closelyradially outwardly spaced peripheral proximity thereto for comminutingweeds-and the like entered therebetween by said shallowpenetratingteeth, and means operatively connecting -the beater rotor tosaid-dn've-transmitting means for rotating saidbeater rotor in reversedirection with respect to the direction of rotation ofthe drum and at asubstantially higher speed than the latter Vand inv a direction biasingsaid drum groundwardly in response to the reactive force resulting fromcomminuting'action of said beater rotor against said drum teeth andmeans mounting said drum for vertical swinging movement about the axisof rotation of said rotor.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1 and comprisin forwardly openshrouds carried by the-frame above each group and encompassing the upperportions thereof and having an upper panel and spaced side panelsdepending from opposite edges of said upper panel and said upper panelextending diagonally downwardly rearwardly in a plane intersecting saidrotor along a chord thereof and providing a guide surface leading intothe rotor.

3. Apparatus for digging up and shredding row planted stalks ofharvested plants with minimum disturbance 0f the surrounding terrain,comprising a frame adapted to be moved over the terrain in apredetermined direction, a rotatably mounted toothed digger drum andhaving groups of relatively long earth penetrating radially extendingteeth, the groups being spaced apart axially substantially the samedistance as the rows upon which they are to operate for alignmenttherewith, a plurality of short teeth on the drum between said groupsand adapted to rake over the top of the ground thereunder between saidrows, and a rotatably mounted shredder drum disposed generally parallelto said digger drum therebehind as respects said direction of movementof said frame and carried by the frame, said shredder drum comprisinggroups of radially extensible relatively long ays axially spaced apartand aligned with respective groups of long teeth in interdigitatingrelationship therewith for shredding stalks entered therebetween, saidshredder drum having a plurality of relatively shorter flaysintermediate said groups, said shorter ays being of a length wherebythey pass in close radially spaced relationship to the short teeth ofthe digger drum thereadjacent, said shredder drum positioned above theground a distance such that the longer ays thereof sweep in closeproximity to the ground and the shorter lays sweep over the ground inslightly spaced relationship thereto thereabove, and means mounting saiddrum for up and down swinging movement relative to said rotor about theaxis of rotation of said rotor.

4. In a stalk chopper and digger implement adapted to be mounted from asupporting structure, a framework including forwardly open shroudsspaced to align with specied rows of plants, a digger assembly having ashaft and a plurality of large fingered discs on the shaft locatedwithin the shrouds and extending from the bottoms thereof to obtain arelatively deep purchase into the ground, a series of relatively smallfingered discs on the shaft intermediate said shrouds adapted to rollalong the ground to pick trash between the rows, a beater rotorjournaled from the framework rearwardly of the digger assembly generallyparallel thereto and comprising a plurality of fingers certain of whichbeing disposed in interdigitating relation with the large discs andothers of which disposed with their outer ends passing close to theouter peripheries of the smaller discs to effect a shearing action onthe plants entered therebetween, and means for rotating said assemblyand rotor in opposite directions at different relative speeds, and meansswingably supporting said assembly about the axis of said rotor forvertical movement relative thereto.

y 5. In a farm ifnplernen -'a ,'forward 1comportent Ahayilig' digger 4elements disposed `at the plantjrows, a.- power shaft keyed thereto, -aplurality vof `fingered discs substantially smaller y-thansaid elementsdisposed intermediate the dig-. ger elements and connectedto the shaft,ashredder assembly backof the forward component and including apair ofVcoaxial `shafts .positioned adjacent to the digger elements' of r theforward componentfand carrying ays=inter -'iigitatiug `withtheadjacent-diggerelements, and arela 'tively light section lframeworkcarried yintermediate said yshafts. of 'the-'assemblyjand ays carriedthereby with their 4'c'iti 'extremities @passing fclose to 'theperipheries of the di'slsoreutting p relativelylightmatter such as weedsintermediate `the rows Vor Avfailings from Ithe plants, an'd means'swirigbly mounting 'said'forward c'omp'onentfa'bout said shredderassembly for vertical movement relative thereto.

References Citel'in'the le'of this patent UNITED STATES .PATENTS 196,617Adams Oct. y30, y1877 `I541,411 Allerton et al. -2..-" June `18, 1.8951,108,319 Belleo.. Aug.v25, 191'4 1,320587-'5 LeSh --.t Nov. 4, l1919v2,455,148 Trverv `Nov. 30, 1.1948 2,526,396

